Greg Slaughter did not see action in NorthPort’s week-ending meeting versus NLEX in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, Sunday evening.
This was a day after his ejection in the Batang Pier’s clash with Terrafirma for a flagrant foul penalty two on Roosevelt Adams in the second quarter.
His absence, though, had no relation to the incident. Interim head coach Bonnie Tan revealed that the 7-foot slotman has been experiencing hip pains.
It was announced during the game’s broadcast, though, that the 33-year-old is suffering from cellulitis, a common bacterial skin infection.
“May kaunting ano lang, pain sa hips. Pero okay naman,” said the amiable team manager moments after their 96-94 win over the Road Warriors.
NorthPort badly missed Slaughter, however. It saw itself outrebounded, 60-43 – this, after being the league’s top rebounding team with 49 a game.
All but one from the Road Warriors contributed at least one rebound, with Jericho Cruz having the most with 10. And Yeng Guiao’s wards ruled the boards despite missing the services of veteran big man JR Quinahan.
“We missed his rebounding. Buti na lang medyo may mga ending na nagha-huddle ‘yung mga players sa loob ng court. And ‘yung rebounding department namin, being the No. 1 team, pero kanina parang ‘di kami No. 1 eh.
“‘Yun ang parating pino-point out kanina ng team. ‘Yung problema namin, ang daming second chance ng NLEX,” Tan said.
Their opponents, meanwhile, hauled down 24 offensive rebounds and scored 26 points off second chances.
Still, the Batang Pier deemed it best to sit Slaughter out for a grueling schedule ahead. The team looks set for another tough week, as it has four more games to play in the eliminations.
League leader TNT Tropang Giga, a streaking Rain or Shine, Magnolia, and Alaska are all set to be their next opponents.
“We decided na to sit him muna para sa mga next games namin,” said Tan, who’s filling in temporarily for head coach Pido Jarencio.
Tan knows the predicament that his Batang Pier are into in terms of the schedule, but they are willing to accept it.
“We’ll support ‘yung schedule ng PBA kasi lahat ng teams nagsa-sacrifice. Ayaw rin naman nating maiwan ‘yung isang tao na mahaba ‘yung hinahabol o nade-delay yung league,” he said.
“Whatever the PBA schedule na in-out sa atin, we’ll take it.”
